LOHAN entertains the crowd at Oz Linux shindig

Our Low Orbit Helium Assisted Navigator (LOHAN) mission took to the stage at the linux.conf.au 2016 in Geelong last Friday, as Linux guru and Vulture 2 spaceplane autopilot wrangler Andrew Tridgell gave an entertaining speech on his currently UAV endeavours. Tridge kicked off his presentation (video here) with a look at the …

[Known Hero]

I am surprised that you only consider the US as an acceptable launching area.

I am sure you could attempt the endeavour elsewhere. Hell at this rate it would be cheaper to rent a boat for the day do some fishing and launch a rocket on your own damn terms!

[Geoff May]

After the recent events in North Korea, that might not be such a good idea.

[Sir Sham Cad]

Re: Acceptable launching area

The US wasn't by any means first choice but apparently it's the only place SPB can get the correct rocket motor without owning a licensed explosives factory. Which might be fun but is beyond the scope and certainly budget of the mission.

[Known Hero]

Re: Acceptable launching area

I was under the impression, that limitation was only in Spain? Again boat idea comes to mind.

Can we tag Musk, maybe ask a little favour? borrow his barge Ooh-err.

[imanidiot]

Re: Acceptable launching area

There is a strong preference for recovering LOHAN completely dry and ready for a possible relaunch. Getting a boat to be in EXACTLY the right spot upon landing is very very very tricky indeed even if things go 100% according to plan (Big ocean, tiny spaceplane, tiny landing spot). Landing in salt water makes the entire plane a write-off. So SPB would like to launch the plane somewhere far away from the nearest bit of water and preferably far away from large expanses of high growth leafed vegetation (trees).

Most of Europe is out because of regulations, difficult terrain, lots of water, lack of access to the rocket motor or a combination of all of the above and more. Maybe launching it in Australia is an option? Other than than that the only large, flat open bits of the world are in Africa (either remote inaccessible terrain or political/safety problems), South America (lots of inaccessible terrain), Russia (good luck getting permisson and getting the needed materials without ending in a Gulag) and maybe China (again, access and permissions are a problem).

[DropBear]

Re: Acceptable launching area

"There is a strong preference for recovering LOHAN completely dry and ready for a possible relaunch."

Well, yes, except the word "relaunch" implies a previous launch that actually happened...

[imanidiot]

Re: Acceptable launching area

If the balloon was released with LOHAN underneath it then I consider that a launch for the LOHAN mission. Actual rocket ignition is just a continuation of that launch.

[allthecoolshortnamesweretaken]

" light consensual tweeting "

See icon.

[Anonymous Coward]

Some Uni's have rocketry associations e.g. http://www.herts.ac.uk/rocketry

Perhaps one of them could help you out? Or is this kind of thing completely illegal in the UK?

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

> Or is this kind of thing completely illegal in the UK?

Universities? Not yet, but the govt is working on it.

[imanidiot]

Because of the altitudes and potential glide distances involved almost the entire UK is located too close to the ocean/sea for comfort. The idea behind launching in the middle of bumfuck nowhere is to minimize chances of a water landing and maximise chance of recovery. A UK launch has been considered but was deemed to risky. Hence the move to Yanky-land.

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

What we need is to colonise a large deserted and preferably desert-ed island somewhere and build a launch site.

[Will Godfrey]

Bad Bad FAA

At this rate it'll be quicker to build your own island in international waters and launch off that.

[imanidiot]

Any news at all?

Has there been any sort of response or movement from the FAA since the last article? Any further contact with anyone within the organisation to confirm the request is still in the stack somewhere?

[Lester Haines]

Re: Any news at all?

The paperwork is in the system. I haven't heard anything since December. I have full confidence that if anyone can get the permission, it's Edge Research. It's just a matter of letting them get on with it.

[Anonymous Coward]

FAA

Stands for: Fuck All Assistance

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: FAA

Forget Amateur Aviation